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G4EBT > RSGB 18.04.07 15:34l 231 Lines 7205 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 435179G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Don't believe Wikipedia hype!
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0AAB<DB0KFB<DB0CZ<DB0GE<DB0LJ<DB0RES<DK0WUE<GB7FCR
Sent: 070418/1229Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:27415 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:435179G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : RSGB@WW
There's been controversy about the inaccuracy of some Wikipedia entries
and
As far as RSGB's entry is concerned, that certainly seems to be the case:
RSGB's Wikipedia hype:
Quote:
>In 2006 the RSGB co-operated with Ofcom to revise the amateur radio
>licence.
End quote.
Twaddle. RSGB did exactly the opposite.
It went head to head with OFCOM saying it was opposed to any form of
deregulation, imploring amateurs to join RSGB to "fight Ofcom".
In so many words, to obstruct Ofcom in performing its statutory duties.
Quote:
>Changes included removing the annual licence fee...
True, but *in spite* of RSGB not because of it. RSGB opposed a free
licence, yet others such as myself were in direct contact with Ofcom
writing thus:
4 Aug 2005 to Head of Deregulation, Ofcom:
Quote:
A free licence for life?
I see no difficulties in a free licence for life, with licensees being
obligated to notify Ofcom of changes of address as a condition of the
licence, as it is with the Driving licence.
Any other arrangement would involve needless administration out of
proportion to any real or perceived benefits, albeit the database
may degrade over time.
The only downside I can see is that when amateurs die Ofcom may not be
notified of their demise, but then neither will the deceased amateur be
around to cause Ofcom any difficulties.
End quote.
>ending the requirement to log all transmissions,
Again, no credit to RSGB - it didn't even raise this with Ofcom.
I, and perhaps others, pressed for mandatory logging to be scrapped as
there was no proportionate regulatory logic to justify retaining it.
Ofcom agreed.
Letter to Ofcom 4 Aug 2005:
Quote:
Mandatory Logbook keeping:
Most amateurs like to keep a logbook of their contacts, but I think
they're the only spectrum users who must do so to comply with the licence
- even for CQ calls that aren't answered.
There's no logical reason for this.
Some may argue that if a TVI/RFI complaint is made, Ofcom need to check
the logs of local amateurs to see if they could have been the source of
interference at the time the complainant noted it.
That argument is unsustainable.
Domestic TVI and RFI complaints (from all sources) had dropped to such a
low level by 2000/01 that from then on the RA stopped reporting on them in
their annual report. The 2000/01 report showed that there were 3,281
cases, of which 321 complainants paid the œ45 charge.
So with 24.4 million households and only 321 cases of TVI from all sources
progressed by the RA, (few of which were amateur radio related), 62,000
amateurs have a mandatory requirement to keep logbooks recording millions
of contacts. Sure, keep a logbook for interest if we want to, but should
it be against the law not to keep a log?
I don't think so.
End quote.
>permission to operate one's amateur radio station remotely,
Again, letter to Ofcom 4 Aug 2005:
Remote operation of transceivers:
Some modern transceivers enable remote operation.
I can for example, via Echolink, remotely operate a transceiver in the
USA, and why not, provided I've furnished proof that I'm a bona fide radio
amateur? I think this is something Ofcom is considering, to bring the UK
licence into line with the USA.
End quote.
Ofcom response, 31 March 2006:
We agree - the plan is to allow remote operation on any amateur radio
frequency except in certain grid references.
RSGB's Wiki entry:
>and increasing the spectrum available the lower classes of licensee.
Again, this appears to have been opposed by RSGB or not asked for.
From my letter to Ofcom 4 Aug 2005:
Quote:
Foundation Licence frequency allocation:
For reasons that defy logic, although M3s are permitted to use bands from
0.1357 MHz to 440 MHz, they're precluded from using 28.00 to 29.70 MHz,
albeit the Intermediate and Full licences permit the use of that
allocation. I'd have thought that the M3 allocation could be brought
into line with the IL and Full.
End quote.
I kept up correspondence with Ofcom and on 31 Mar 2006 got this reply:
>Foundation Licence frequency allocations:
-----------------------------------------
>Still considering this but any changes here would prove very contentious.
In other words, it would upset the old guard at RSGB. Tough.
Ofcom later conceded that the restriction was untenable and after
granted the allocation to M3s. Not because of, but in spite of RSGB.
And isn't it typical of RSGB toffs to use the term "lower classes" on
Wikipedia? What does this tell the world about RSGB and the remnants
of the British class-ridden social system?
Neither Ofcom nor its predecessors have *ever* used the term "Class" to
describe licenses - only RSGB and radio amateurs have used that term.
There were two categories of licence (apart from Novice) before the
present three-stage system was introduced.
They were:
"Full B":
This no-code licence permitted full power on all allocated bands
above 30Mhz. Requirements - Radio Amateurs Exam (RAE) pass only.
"Full A":
Permitted full power on all allocated bands. Requirements -
RAE pass, plus 12WPM Morse (later reduced to 5WPM).
RSGB, many amateurs and radio mags often referred to these as "Class A"
and "Class B". The licence never did - it simply said "Full Licence". It
added the rider:
"Those licensed under an amateur radio licence (B) may not transmit on
those bands between 0.1357 and 29.7 Mhz".
No mention of "Class" except by RSGB with its outdated "upstairs
downstairs" mentality towards the "lower orders".
An "A" licensee such as myself was/s just a B with a piffling
12WPM Morse pass. No big deal.
RSGB claims credit for scrapping the Morse test yet supported its
retention for decades for HF access, long after any weak, illogical
justification had evaporated.
It lingered on for years even after commercial shipping scrapped it.
The truth is that UK amateurs themselves scrapped the Morse test by not
bothering to take it. When it was reduced from 12WPM to 5WPM in 2000, of
24,700 amateurs eligible to take the 5WPM test only 636 bothered to do so
by the time it was scrapped in 2003.
(Source: RA Annual Reports).
RSGB only woke up when it realised it was being hit in the pocket.
If amateurs weren't bothered about an HF licence, they weren't bothered
about buying HF rigs either. This meant the dealers weren't happy, which
meant RSGB advertising revenue was under threat.
Oh dear, we can't have that!
So it had nothing to do with RSGB moving the hobby on.
Scrapping the test almost doubled overnight the number of potential
punters for HF rigs, boosting dealers profits, and hence, RSGBs revenues.
Except it flopped.
By then the internet had taken hold and amateur radio had missed the boat.
R-adio
S-ociety
G-oing
B-roke?
The hobby is fizzling out and there's nothing RSGB can do about it. RSGB
isn't "fighting for the hobby" - it's fighting for its own survival.
7k+ ho hum.
As RSGB would say, "roll it up and bin it".
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
(Station powered by hot air).
Message timed: 13:18 on 2007-Apr-18
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